SchoolScoresThorney Close Primary School
Community school · Primary, ages 3 to 11 · Mixed · Nursery class
Torquay Road, Sunderland, SR3 4BB
0191 525 0808 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 12 September 2023.
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Good |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Outstanding |
| Personal development | Outstanding |
| Leadership and management | Outstanding |
| Early years | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
15 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 4 September 2023 and 2 September 2024.
Sunderland comparisons use the 25 of its 50 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 25 have no published Parent View results (Ofsted only publishes a survey once at least 10 parents answer) or used Ofsted's newer questions, which we don't compare with the older ones.
| Statement | This school | Sunderland | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 22nd highest of 25 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Sunderland. Higher than 16% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 87% | 95% | 88% |
| My child feels safe at this school 22nd highest of 25 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Sunderland. Higher than 15% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 87% | 96% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 11th highest of 25 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Sunderland. Higher than 57% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 93% | 91% | 84% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent Joint 17th highest of 25 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Sunderland. Higher than 35% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 87%said yes | 91% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families. Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. Sunderland figures pool parents at the Sunderland schools compared, from each school's latest survey, so survey dates differ between schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
41 pupils in this year group.
63% — 3 points below the Sunderland average, and about the same as the England average.
| Measure | This school | Sunderland | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 63% | 66% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 7% | 11% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 80% | 77% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 73% | 75% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 78% | 77% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 104 | 106 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 105 | 105 | 105 |
Source: DfE key stage 2 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Sunderland. The national closing date for primary applications is 15 January, and offers are sent on 16 April.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were about one first-choice application for every place.
| Places offered | 34 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 33 |
| Of those, offered a place | 33 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 47 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 0.9 · 2026: 1.0
This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.
Pupils, staff and SEND
Specialist SEND provision: this school has resourced provision with 9 places for hearing impairment. These places are usually allocated through the council's SEND team.
| Pupils | This school | Sunderland | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 3rd highest of 50 state primary schools in Sunderland. Higher than 96% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 59.4% | 31.1%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 2nd highest of 50 state primary schools in Sunderland. Higher than 82% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 5.2% | 2.1%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 21st highest of 50 state primary schools in Sunderland. Higher than 78% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 19.3% | 17.8%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 13th highest of 50 state primary schools in Sunderland. Higher than 55% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 11.7% | 8.3%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) Joint 38th lowest of 50 state primary schools in Sunderland. Lower than 25% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 6.0% | 5.2%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 45th lowest of 50 state primary schools in Sunderland. Lower than 10% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 21.6% | 13.5%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 30th lowest of 50 state primary schools in Sunderland. Lower than 45% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 1.4 | 1.6 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 40th lowest of 50 state primary schools in Sunderland. Lower than 29% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 1.4% | 0.8% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.06% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 50th highest of 50 state primary schools in Sunderland. Higher than 10% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 15.6 | 20.4 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) Joint 42nd highest of 50 state primary schools in Sunderland. Higher than 33% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 9.8 | 11.3 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year Joint 44th highest of 50 state primary schools in Sunderland. Higher than 0% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 0.0% | 12.2%* | 14.4%* |
Comparisons are with primary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.
SEND provision: Get Information about Schools (DfE).
Nearby primary schools
- Hasting Hill Academy 0.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 55% met expected standard (KS2)
- Farringdon Academy 0.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 60% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Cuthbert's Catholic Primary School, Sunderland 0.6 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 74% met expected standard (KS2)
- Broadway Junior School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2014), confirmed 2023 · 55% met expected standard (KS2)
- Plains Farm Academy 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2015), confirmed 2024 · 65% met expected standard (KS2)
- Grindon Infant School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 6 expected, 1 needs attention
- East Herrington Primary Academy 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 81% met expected standard (KS2)
- Barnes Junior School 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2014), confirmed 2023 · 38% met expected standard (KS2)
- Barnes Infant Academy 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 7 expected
- New Silksworth Academy Infant 1.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019), confirmed, may be improving 2024
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Thorney Close Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Thorney Close Primary School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 12 September 2023.
How did Thorney Close Primary School do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 63% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, about the same as the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend Thorney Close Primary School?
87% of the 15 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 4 September 2023 and 2 September 2024 said they would recommend Thorney Close Primary School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Thorney Close Primary School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 33 families put Thorney Close Primary School as their first choice for 34 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 33 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 108828.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 4 September 2023 to 2 September 2024.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, Key stage 2 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.